Title of Invention	A METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A ANNULAR CONNECTION FLANGE
Abstract	The invention relates to a method for producing a connection flange. The aim of the invention is to create a method which allows the production of an annular connection flange, especially a connection flange described in DE 101 26 049, to be improved and simplified. Said aim is achieved by a method for producing an annular connection flange ( L-flange), according to which the annular flange is carved out of a ring-shaped element that has an essentially triangular cross-section (profile).

Title of Invention

A METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A ANNULAR CONNECTION FLANGE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a connection flange. The aim of the invention is to create a method which allows the production of an annular connection flange, especially a connection flange described in DE 101 26 049, to be improved and simplified. Said aim is achieved by a method for producing an annular connection flange ( L-flange), according to which the annular flange is carved out of a ring-shaped element that has an essentially triangular cross-section (profile).

Full Text	A METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A ANNULAR CONNECTION FLANGE DE 101 26 049 A1 already discloses an annular connection flange having a tubular portion for mounting to an end of a tubular component, in particular for a pylon segment for constructing a pylon of a wind power installation, wherein it is formed with a flange collar radially adjoining one end of the portion and having a flange surface oriented axially away from the tubular portion. To produce such an annular connection flange, the state of the art uses an element in the form of a circular ring which is substantially quadrangular in its cross-section (profile) and that element in the form of the circular ring is then machined so that the annular connection flange is left. In the machining operation material is removed from the element n the form of the circular ring, in a not insignificant amount, in order then to obtain in the cross-section (profile), the desired profile of the annular connection flange, in one piece. It is therefore accordingly known for a connection flange to be turned in one piece from a metal semifinished product, to produce the connection flange. Above-mentioned DE 101 26 049 also discloses an annular connection flange in which the outside wall of the tubular portion is conical, in particular for mounting to a component which is also conical. The object of the present invention is to propose a method with which the production of an annular connection flange, in particular a connection flange as is described in DE 101 26 049, is improved and simplified. That object is attained by a method as set forth in claim 1. Advantageous developments are described in the appendant claims. The invention is based on the realisation that, at its free end, the flange collar has to transmit only relatively low forces and possibly even no forces at all. Therefore in terms of the strength and the stability of the connection flange, it is harmless if the thickness of the flange collar at its free end is less than in the region where the flange collar forms a transition (integrally) into the tubular portion. That can also provide that the starting material which can be used for production of the connection flange is not for example just a segment in the form of a circular ring which is of a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, but it can also be substantially of a triangular cross-section. The particular advantage is that in that way the cutting or turning operations for producing the connection flange from the semifinished product are considerably reduced. When the semifinished product is of a substantially triangular cross-section, it is also markedly better than a previous semifinished product because at the initial stage the semifinished product does not need to have as much material as hitherto. Further configurations are the subject-matter of the appendant claims. Figure 1 shows a semifinished product in accordance with the state of the art, Figure 2 shows a semifinished product according to the invention of substantially triangular cross-section, Figure 3 shows a semifinished product according to the invention with a concave surface, Figures 4 and 5 show semifinished products of a first embodiment, Figures 6 and 7 show semifinished products of a second embodiment, Figures 8 and 9 show semifinished products of a third embodiment, Figures 10 and 11 show a fourth embodiment of the semifinished products, and Figure 12 shows a workpiece from which two flanges are produced. Figure 1 shows a semifinished product as is used in the state of the art, of a rectangular cross-section, from which the flange is produced. Figure 2 shows a semifinished product according to the invention of substantially triangular cross-section, wherein the hypotenuse of the triangle is straight. Figure 3, instead of a straight hypotenuse, illustrates an arc, thus affording a concave surface portion. Figure 4 shows a first embodiment, having regard to the state of the art. The semifinished product is illustrated as being rectangular in this Figure and a broken line indicates what region of that semifinished product is not needed in accordance with the invention from the outset. Figure 5 is a view in cross-section through a corresponding semifinished product. In this case, in these two, as also in the present Figures, those regions which have to be removed are always hatched. The views in Figures 6 and 7 are comparable to those in Figures 4 and 5. The difference is that, in Figures 6 and 7, the inner edge of the flange ring is no longer rectangular but of a bevelled configuration. Figures 8 and 9 show a comparable embodiment to that shown in Figures 4 and 5, but with a concave surface portion instead of a straight surface. Figures 10 and 11 show an embodiment with an inclined flange. Finally Figure 12 again shows a right-angled semifinished product and illustrates how two flanges can be obtained from such a semifinished product. I CLAIM : 1. A method for the production of an annular connection flange having a L-shaped cross-section that is orthogonal to the peripheral direction, a tubular portion for mounting to an end of a tubular component, a flange collar adjoining an end of the tubular portion in radial direction and with a flange surface oriented away from the tubular portion in axial direction, wherein the flange collar radially adjoins the tubular portion of the connection flange in an inward direction and the flange collar is of a smaller thickness at the free end than in the region where the flange collar is connected to the tubular portion, wherein method for the production of the annular flange comprises: taking an element in the farm of a circular ring having a triangular profile with three corners and a triangular configuration in cross-section, cutting off the triangular profile at one or two of the three comers so as to flatten sharp tips of the corners; and removing of material from the circular ring to obtain the L-shaped profile of the flange. 2. An annular connection flange produced by the method as claimed in claim 1, such that the annular connection flange having a tubular portion far mounting to an end of a tubular component and a flange collar radially adjoining an end of the tubular portion in radial direction and with a flange surface oriented away from the tubular portion in axial direction, wherein the flange collar radially inwardly adjoins a tubular portion of the connection flange in an inward direction and the flange collar is of a smaller thickness at the free end than in the region where the flange collar is connected to the tubular portion. 3. An annular connection flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular component is a pylon segment of a pylon of a wind power installation. The invention relates to a method for producing a connection flange. The aim of the invention is to create a method which allows the production of an annular connection flange, especially a connection flange described in DE 101 26 049, to be improved and simplified. Said aim is achieved by a method for producing an annular connection flange ( L-flange), according to which the annular flange is carved out of a ring-shaped element that has an essentially triangular cross-section (profile).

Full Text

A METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A ANNULAR CONNECTION FLANGE
DE 101 26 049 A1 already discloses an annular connection flange having a tubular portion for mounting to an end of a tubular component, in particular for a pylon segment for constructing a pylon of a wind power installation, wherein it is formed with a flange collar radially adjoining one end of the portion and having a flange surface oriented axially away from the tubular portion.
To produce such an annular connection flange, the state of the art uses an element in the form of a circular ring which is substantially quadrangular in its cross-section (profile) and that element in the form of the circular ring is then machined so that the annular connection flange is left. In the machining operation material is removed from the element n the form of the circular ring, in a not insignificant amount, in order then to obtain in the cross-section (profile), the desired profile of the annular connection flange, in one piece. It is therefore accordingly known for a connection flange to be turned in one piece from a metal semifinished product, to produce the connection flange.
Above-mentioned DE 101 26 049 also discloses an annular connection flange in which the outside wall of the tubular portion is conical, in particular for mounting to a component which is also conical.
The object of the present invention is to propose a method with which the production of an annular connection flange, in particular a connection flange as is described in DE 101 26 049, is improved and simplified.
That object is attained by a method as set forth in claim 1. Advantageous developments are described in the appendant claims.
The invention is based on the realisation that, at its free end, the flange collar has to transmit only relatively low forces and possibly even no forces at all. Therefore in terms of the strength and the stability of the connection flange, it is harmless if the thickness of the flange collar at its
free end is less than in the region where the flange collar forms a transition (integrally) into the tubular portion. That can also provide that the starting material which can be used for production of the connection flange is not for example just a segment in the form of a circular ring which is of a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, but it can also be substantially of a triangular cross-section.
The particular advantage is that in that way the cutting or turning operations for producing the connection flange from the semifinished product are considerably reduced. When the semifinished product is of a substantially triangular cross-section, it is also markedly better than a previous semifinished product because at the initial stage the semifinished product does not need to have as much material as hitherto. Further configurations are the subject-matter of the appendant claims.
Figure 1 shows a semifinished product in accordance with the state of the art,
Figure 2 shows a semifinished product according to the invention of substantially triangular cross-section,
Figure 3 shows a semifinished product according to the invention with a concave surface,
Figures 4 and 5 show semifinished products of a first embodiment,
Figures 6 and 7 show semifinished products of a second embodiment,
Figures 8 and 9 show semifinished products of a third embodiment,
Figures 10 and 11 show a fourth embodiment of the semifinished products, and
Figure 12 shows a workpiece from which two flanges are produced.
Figure 1 shows a semifinished product as is used in the state of the art, of a rectangular cross-section, from which the flange is produced.
Figure 2 shows a semifinished product according to the invention of substantially triangular cross-section, wherein the hypotenuse of the triangle is straight. Figure 3, instead of a straight hypotenuse, illustrates an arc, thus affording a concave surface portion.
Figure 4 shows a first embodiment, having regard to the state of the art. The semifinished product is illustrated as being rectangular in this Figure and a broken line indicates what region of that semifinished product is not needed in accordance with the invention from the outset.
Figure 5 is a view in cross-section through a corresponding semifinished product. In this case, in these two, as also in the present Figures, those regions which have to be removed are always hatched.
The views in Figures 6 and 7 are comparable to those in Figures 4 and 5. The difference is that, in Figures 6 and 7, the inner edge of the flange ring is no longer rectangular but of a bevelled configuration.
Figures 8 and 9 show a comparable embodiment to that shown in Figures 4 and 5, but with a concave surface portion instead of a straight surface.
Figures 10 and 11 show an embodiment with an inclined flange.
Finally Figure 12 again shows a right-angled semifinished product and illustrates how two flanges can be obtained from such a semifinished product.
I CLAIM :
1. A method for the production of an annular connection flange having a L-shaped cross-section that is orthogonal to the peripheral direction, a tubular portion for mounting to an end of a tubular component, a flange collar adjoining an end of the tubular portion in radial direction
and with a flange surface oriented away from the tubular portion in axial
direction,
wherein the flange collar radially adjoins the tubular portion of the
connection flange in an inward direction and the flange collar is of a smaller
thickness at the free end than in the region where the flange collar is connected
to the tubular portion,
wherein method for the production of the annular flange comprises: taking an element in the farm of a circular ring having a triangular profile
with three corners and a triangular configuration in cross-section,
cutting off the triangular profile at one or two of the three comers so as to
flatten sharp tips of the corners; and
removing of material from the circular ring to obtain the L-shaped profile of
the flange.
2. An annular connection flange produced by the method as claimed in claim
1, such that the annular connection flange having
a tubular portion far mounting to an end of a tubular component and
a flange collar radially adjoining an end of the tubular portion in radial
direction and with a flange surface oriented away from the tubular portion in axial
direction,
wherein the flange collar radially inwardly adjoins a tubular portion of the
connection flange in an inward direction and the flange collar is of a smaller
thickness at the free end than in the region where the flange collar is connected
to the tubular portion.
3. An annular connection flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular component is a pylon segment of a pylon of a wind power installation.

The invention relates to a method for producing a connection flange. The aim of the invention is to create a method which allows the production of an annular connection flange, especially a connection flange described in DE 101 26 049, to be improved and simplified. Said aim is achieved by a method for producing an annular connection flange ( L-flange), according to which the annular flange is carved out of a ring-shaped element that has an essentially triangular cross-section (profile).

Documents:

2270-KOLNP-2005-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2270-KOLNP-2005-FORM 27.pdf

2270-KOLNP-2005-FORM-27.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-abstract.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-claims.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-correspondence.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-description (complete).pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-drawings.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-examination report.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-form 1.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-form 18.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-form 3.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-form 5.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-gpa.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

2270-kolnp-2005-granted-specification.pdf

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Patent Number

234604

Indian Patent Application Number

2270/KOLNP/2005

PG Journal Number

24/2009

Publication Date

12-Jun-2009

Grant Date

09-Jun-2009

Date of Filing

16-Nov-2005

Name of Patentee

WOBBEN, ALOYS

Applicant Address

ARGESTRASSE 19, 26607 AURICH

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	WOBBEN, ALOYS	ARGESTRASSE 19, 26607 AURICH
2	WOBBEN, ALOYS	ARGESTRASSE 19, 26607 AURICH

PCT International Classification Number

E04H 12/08

PCT International Application Number

PCT/EP2004/002862

PCT International Filing date

2004-03-19

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	103 25 032.8	2003-06-02	Germany